Mensch Re-Introduces Performance Based Budgeting Bill

SB 181 would require departments and agencies to justify their budget
requests beginning with dollar one, for all existing as well as proposed
programs for each fiscal year, before they can receive consideration for budget
funding.

The bill would create a performance-based budget board to review the
performance-based budget plans of Pennsylvania agencies and make recommendations
on how each agency’s programs may be made more transparent, effective, and
efficient.

The traditional method of budget development relies upon incremental
adjustments to expenditures made in the previous financial period. New and
changing demands for public services are met through excessive budget growth
rather than by pruning obsolete programs and redirecting existing funds. We need
to ensure that the budget is driven by clear and defensible purposes rather than
inertia. We want government spending to be transparent, effective, and efficient
for our taxpayers.

This Performance Based Budgeting legislation was first introduced during the
2015-16 legislative session. The Senate Appropriations and Policy committees
held a
joint hearing that included national, state and local experts, along with
representatives from the Independent Fiscal Office and the Governor’s Budget
Office to discuss the bill.

The bill passed the Senate during the 2015-16 session but was unable to pass
the House before the end of the legislative session.

Mensch Announces Senate Committee Assignments

I am pleased to have been appointed to serve on several key committees for
the 2017-18 legislative session.

It’s in the committees that much of the work producing sound legislation is
done. This is where bills are vetted, examined, amended and improved. I look
forward to serving on these committees during what looks to be a challenging and
exciting legislative session.

It’s an honor to again serve as Vice Chairman of the Veterans Affairs and
Emergency Preparedness Committee. In addition, I was again appointed to the
vital Senate Appropriations Committee.

I will continue to serve on the Aging and Youth, Game and Fisheries,
and Health and Human Services (previously known as Public Health and
Welfare) committees. I also sit on the Majority Caucus Policy Committee.

In addition, I chair the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC),
which is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative service agency consisting of 12
members of the General Assembly. The LBFC conducts studies and provides
recommendations aimed at eliminating unnecessary expenditures while ensuring
that state funds are being expended in accordance with legislative intent and
law. I also co-chair the Senate Economy, Business and Jobs Caucus, the
Life Science Caucus, and the Community College Caucus.

I am proud to be elected by my Republican colleagues to serve as Majority
Caucus Chairman for the 2017-2018 legislative session. As chairman I will
preside over Republican caucus meetings to discuss bills and amendments and to
develop caucus strategy.

Committees Review Possible State Prison Closures

Three Senate committees held a joint public hearing on Monday to review the
Wolf administration’s decision to potentially close two state prisons.

The Senate Majority Committee, and Democratic Policy Committee and Senate
Judiciary Committee held the hearing to look at various aspects of the proposed
closings including cost to taxpayers, public safety, transparency, prison
overpopulation and the impact on local communities.

On January 6, the Department of Corrections announced that it would close two
State Correctional Institutions in June. Five state prisons are currently under
consideration, including SCI Frackville, SCI Mercer, SCI Pittsburgh, SCI Retreat
and SCI Waymart.

Environmental Resources & Energy

Senate Bill 138 gives royalty interest owners the opportunity to
inspect records of the gas company to verify proper payment.
Senate Bill 139 prohibits gas companies from retaliating against a
royalty interest owner by terminating the lease agreement or ceasing development
because a landowner questions the accuracy of the royalty payments.

Judiciary

Senate Bill 42 imposes criminal penalties for those who falsely
wear military awards and decorations.
Senate Bill 59 authorizes joint ventures between correctional
facilities and private industry.
Senate Bill 60 requires cash-for-gold dealers to retain each item
of precious metal for 10 business days, instead of five, after purchasing it.
The extension will allow burglary victims to discover and report the theft and
will enable police to investigate the theft.
Senate Bill 62 protects and provides services for children of
incarcerated parents.
Senate Bill 69 addresses the enforcement and application of
Pennsylvania’s cruelty laws as they pertain to horses.

Next Week

The Senate will return to voting session on Monday at 1 p.m. You can
watch session live at
PASenateGOP.com.

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